Strong demand from exhibitors is prompting unINDIAN director/producer Anupam Sharma and his distributor to broaden the cross-cultural romantic comedy’s cinema release.
The first feature from the Australia India Film Fund (AIFF) is already booked to launch on 86 screens on October 15 and Sharma expects the number to reach 104 by opening day.
The distributor is Vikas Paul’s Friends India Entertaainment (sic), who is keen to handle more mainstream films as well as handing Indian product.
AIFF's head of films and the founder of the Fox Studios-based Films & Casting Temple, Sharma tells IF the launch will be backed by a P&A spend of more than $1.2 million: almost $750,000 from the distributor and $500,000 from his investors.
Scripted by Thushy Saathi, the plot follows Meera (Tannishtha Chatterjee), a beautiful divorcee and single mother of one who has settled in Sydney and has a successful career. When she meets the charismatic Will (Brett Lee), love is the last thing on her mind.
Her family encourages her to marry 'a nice Indian man, which raises the questions: Does she do as her family wishes? Or does she follow her heart and live her life the way she wants to?
Sharma, who produced the film with Lisa Duff, was ecstatic after the Wednesday night red carpet premiere in Sydney, observing, “We have had overwhelming response and support from all sections of the community.”
Social media was abuzz with praise. Former Sydney Film Festival president and AFC CEO Cathy Robinson posted on Facebook, “Anupam Sharma and the cast and crew of ‪#unINDIAN‬ gave us such a treat tonight. I loved seeing the film and experiencing the atmosphere of the screening. All the very best for a hugely successful release.”
Paul Mackenzie: “Great movie for Australia-India relations. Encourage everyone to go and see it.”
Harmeet S. Hora: “The comedy, the movie, the direction and the flow with which the movie kept rolling are all awesome.”
Carolyn Saul: "Big congrats to Anupam Sharma, Lisa Duff, and all the cast and crew of this fun, warm-hearted, lovely film. Proud to have been part of the team.”
Scandinavia's Yellow Affair is handling international sales on the film which had its world premiere at the Montreal Film Festival. Sharma says there is strong interest from buyers in Canada and the UK and he's had two offers from Indian distributors.